Religiosity, Spirituality Impact Health

"A person's religiosity and spirituality independently predicts health outcomes after a collective traumatic event like Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. researchers say."

End-of-World Business Is Booming in Bomb Shelter Industry

"A massive earthquake. A giant tsunami. Escalating turmoil in the Middle East. Unusual energy in the Milky Way. Dire predictions about the end of the world next year. Put all of that together and, if you are in the underground bunker business, your business is booming."

Possible Major Early Christian Find

"For scholars of faith and history, it is a treasure trove too precious for price. This ancient collection of 70 tiny books, their lead pages bound with wire, could unlock some of the secrets of the earliest days of Christianity. Academics are divided as to their authenticity but say that if verified, they could prove as pivotal as the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947."

Buddhist Monks in Japan Rap to Attract Young Converts

"Buddhist monks in Japan are trying to attract young people by performing sutras in a hip-hop style."

Lourdes Calls Cure "Remarkable," Shuns "Miracle"

"The Roman Catholic shrine at Lourdes has announced the 'remarkable healing' of a French invalid, avoiding the traditional term 'miracle' because its doctors increasingly shy away from calling an illness incurable."

Religion May Become Extinct in Nine Nations, Study Says

"A study using census data from nine countries shows that religion there is set for extinction, say researchers."

Jesuits Settle Northwest Sex Abuse Cases for $166 Million

"In one of the largest settlements in the Catholic church's sweeping sex abuse scandal, an order of priests agreed Friday to pay $166.1 million to hundreds of Native Americans and Alaska Natives who were abused at the order's schools around the Pacific Northwest."

Sins of the Fathers

"The archdiocese of Philadelphia suspends 21 accused priests."

More U.S. Colleges Adding Muslim Chaplains

"No one keeps official numbers, but more than 30 Muslim chaplains work on college campuses or at private high schools around the nation, most of them part time, says Tahera Ahmad, who started at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., in fall 2010 as associate chaplain and the university's first Muslim chaplain."

Research: Frequent Churchgoers Frequently Fatter

"Young, religiously active people are more likely than their non-religious counterparts to become obese in middle age, according to new research. In fact, frequent religious involvement appears to almost double the risk of obesity compared with little or no involvement."

New NIV Bible Draws Critics of Gender-Neutral Language

"The 2011 translation of the New International Version Bible, or NIV, does not change pronouns referring to God, who remains 'He' and "the Father." But it does aim to avoid using 'he' or 'him' as the default reference to an unspecified person."

Are You Angry at God?

"Survey Shows Up to Two Thirds of Americans Blame God in Hard Times"

Philadelphia Fears Abusive Priests Are Still Active

"Three weeks after a scathing grand jury report accused the Philadelphia Archdiocese of providing safe haven for as many as 37 priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior toward minors, most of those priests remain active in the ministry."

U.S. Prepares for Islamic Governments

"The United States is preparing for the prospect of Islamic governments in Africa and the Middle East, and more religion in the region's politics, aides said."

Online Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon (Free)

The Online Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon is now available at no cost.

New Edition of the (Catholic) New American Bible

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has ordered up a new translation of the Bible, one it says is more accurate, more accessible and more poetic."

Christian Author's Book Sparks Charges of Heresy

"The pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bell has authored a book called Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, which ignited a firestorm of controversy over the weekend, weeks before it arrives in bookstores."